2. Liliviere
Liliviere
Emperor or not, King Malakai is a domineering prick.
I stare at his royal proclamation in disbelief. The same man who could not be bothered to attend my coming-of-age ceremony, the one whom my parents turned to in their hour of need and has ignored us ever since the end of the war, now thinks he can command me to marry his son?
Asshole.
I’m not going along with this. But I need to find a plausible way to escape. Maybe I can marry one of my advisors—immediately. I set the frustrating letter aside and call in my head guard.
“Your Majesty?” he asks, bowing.
“Are you married?” I ask bluntly. He’s older than me by at least a decade, but I don’t mind that.
He served my parents and was elevated for his bravery during the war.
He’d be a fine king to serve beside me, ruling a country caught within an empire held together by an emperor called Malakai the Monster for the way he crushed the Gremalians in battle.
I have done my level best to avoid interacting with the man ever since the Great War ended, when the King of Enovar asserted his dominance over several countries in the name of peace.
I’m rather reluctant to admit that he has maintained it.
I’ve never met him, but I have been aware of King Malakai for years. How could I not be?
And now I am supposed to marry one of his sons? No, thank you.
“My lady?” the head guard sputters.
“You heard me. Are you married?”
“Yes, Majesty. You sent us a wedding gift not six months ago.” His cheeks are red, but not as red as mine likely are. Heat rushes to my face. I really should have remembered that detail. I do not want to admit that my assistant, Julian, sent the gift on my behalf.
“Of course.” It’s not as though I’m friendly with my guard.
Our relationship is strictly business. He keeps me alive.
My grandfather pays him from the royal treasury.
That’s as far as it goes. We do not chitchat.
But I have to think of something to say.
I can’t tell him I simply forgot the fact that he was married only months ago. “How is it going?”
“My marriage?” he asks in confusion.
“Yes.” When in doubt, act confident.
“Very well, my lady.”
“Wonderful. I am so glad to hear it. Since you are such an expert on the subject, do you consider anyone in my court worthy of the title of King?” I bat my eyes at him.
He is quite handsome. Maybe I like older men.
I really haven’t had much chance to find out.
There is no such thing as dating for a young princess.
Every move I make is heavily scrutinized on the internet, and there aren’t very many men who want to be romantically involved with a woman who will always put her people first. Understandably.
As a result, I do not have very much experience with this subject.
I always assumed I would have an arranged marriage.
As old-fashioned as it sounds, it’s the only practical way forward.
But my parents died before they could choose someone for me, and my grandfather has mostly chosen to let me handle the issue of choosing a partner.
Or not. I’m pretty sure he would prefer never to think of his granddaughter that way.
Now Emperor Malakai wants to choose for me? He is not my father. He has no right.
“I could not possibly presume to suggest a person, Princess Liliviere,” my head guard says humbly. I want to strangle him. Unfortunately, my small hands would probably not even close around his armored neck, much less be strong enough to throttle him.
“Very well, you are dismissed. If you think of anyone, please send me his name. And if you wouldn’t mind keeping this conversation between us, I would be most grateful for your discretion.” Honestly, it’s humiliating to have to ask him this way.
I spend the afternoon and all the next day considering every possible unmarried male in the kingdom who might potentially suit my needs—discretion, a disinterest in leadership—that is my job, thank you very much, and I take it very seriously—and will reliably stay out of the tabloids.
It’s a fairly boring life, but it does come with a castle and an expense account.
Unfortunately, by midday, I have eliminated every possible candidate. Not a single taker for the role of Prince Consort can be found in Kellimar.
To buy time, I compose a formal letter inviting King Malakai to discuss treaty terms. If I’m going to be forced into the arms of his lout of a son, I am determined to set some enforceable rules first.
Dear Emperor,
I am willing to discuss a union between Kellimar and Enovar.
However, a wedding today hence is not enough time to prepare.
Please bring your son, Prince Kenton, to my kingdom to discuss the terms of the treaty.
I would like some guarantees before I sign over rule of my kingdom to a mere princeling.
You are both welcome to come and stay with us for a few days to get to know my kingdom and its customs. You will have a great deal to learn, as you have never expressed any interest in Kellimar before now.
I’ll bargain with you, but you have to come to me.
Warm regards,
Princess Liliviere.